Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 707, Issue 2, 29 January 1996, Pages 221-227
Brain Research

Research report
Localization of motor- and nonmotor-related neurons within the matrix-striosome organization of rat striatum

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(95)01261-3Get rights and content

Abstract

Striatal neurons can be classified as movement- and nonmovement-related depending on their ability to change firing rate in close temporal association with spontaneous movement in an open-field arena. The present study assessed the location of these cell types within the compartmental organization of the striatum by combining single-unit recording techniques in freely moving rats with calbindin immunohistochemistry. Movement-related neurons were found predominately either in the matrix or along the matrix-striosome border. Most of these neurons were nonselective in that they increased activity whenever the animals changed from a quiet resting posture to any form of behavioral activation (e.g., grooming, locomotion, rearing). The remaining neurons in this group responded exclusively to movements of the head. Nonselective units discharged at a significantly slower rate than head-movement units during both quiet rest and periods of actual movement. Nonmovement-related neurons, which failed to show a reliable change in activity to overt behavior, comprised a relatively small portion of the neuronal sample but were also located in either the matrix or along the matrix-striosome border. Collectively, these results suggest that even though striatal neurons can be distinguished on the basis of their responsiveness to ongoing behavior in an open-field paradigm, such distinctions are not clearly linked to sites within the matrix or its striosomal borders.

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  • Cited by (0)

    1

    Present address: Indiana University Medical Center, UH 1410, 550 N. University Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.

    2

    Present address: Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Systems Neuroscience, NIMH, P.O. Box 608, Poolesville, MD 20836, USA.

    3

    Present address: Department of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Program, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 South First Ave., Maywood, IL 60153, USA.

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